Tuesday May 10, 2011
In this issue:
Speed Reduction in School Zones Campaign
The Ecology Action Centre is calling on the Nova Scotia government to reduce speeds in school zones and child play areas to help make our streets safer for children and youth. Over 15 organizations, including the Nova Scotia Chiefs of Police Association and the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities, now support such a change in the Motor Vehicle Act. Read more here
. Learn more by viewing a backgrounder and template letter of support to the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal. Please consider writing a letter yourself, or on behalf of your organization, in support of this move.
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Register Early for Prizes: IWALK 2011
The theme for International Walk to School Month in October 2011 is Walking Safety. Our Making Tracks: Walking module is offered in multiple experiential, fun sessions. It teaches students the skills they need to walk in their communities safely and is endorsed by the Department of Education, linking with the P to 6 curriculum. Have one or more of your teachers trained to deliver it to students. Contact us at walk@ecologyaction.ca to learn more.
Register for IWALK by June 30 and receive enough IWALK stickers for all students in your school. Register here. All registered schools that complete the Award & Feedback Form at the end of October qualify for prize draws for:
- A bike donated by Cyclesmith to give away to a lucky bike-minded student
- A classroom pedometer kit
- Reflective arm/leg bands for all students (up to 500)
- Climate Change Teacher’s Guide by Green Teacher and an Ecology Action Centre membership
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ASRTS 10th Anniversary
The year 2011 not only marks the 40th Anniversary of the Ecology Action Centre, but it also marks the 10th Anniversary of the Active & Safe Routes to School program in Nova Scotia. We’ve grown from humble beginnings where nine schools were involved with International Walk to School Day in 2001. This grew into Walk to School Month, with approximately 100 schools or more participating annually across the province. Our programming has grown as well. Here’s an example of what we accomplished in 2010-11 alone:
- International Walk to School Month: 98 schools and 19,560 students
- WOW – We Often Walk (or Wheel) weekly walks: 8 schools and 1,960 students
- Walking School Bus: 7 schools
- Pace Car anti-speeding initiative: 4 new Communities, 517 new Pace Car Drivers (2450 overall)
- Making Tracks safety skills training: 7 schools/groups delivered modules to 110 children/youth
- School Travel Plans: 17 schools
- Winter Walk Day: 95 schools/youth groups
This past year we also: launched an advocacy campaign to reduce speeds in schools zones and child play areas; delivered three Youth Engagement in Active Transportation workshops in Sydney and Dartmouth involving 68 people (see photo); and promoted the Child- and Youth-Friendly Land-Use and Transport Planning Guidelines for Nova Scotia
. For more on Active & Safe Routes to School’s history, click here.
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Basinview Launches Pace Car: June 3
Basinview Drive Community School in Bedford will launch the Pace Car anti-speeding program on Friday, June 3 at 5:30 at the school. Sign up to become a Pace Car driver to help stop speeding on our streets. Learn more about the Pace Car program.
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Making Tracks Gets Them Moving and Teaches Safety Skills
Another successful Making Tracks Cycling “train-the-trainer” session was held in HRM from April 29 to 30. Five teachers and six recreation staff were trained in the program that teaches children and youth bicycle skills and safety. The photo shows participants having a "slow race" to help hone their skills as part of the training session held at Dalhousie. Throughout Nova Scotia since 2008, 120 adults and 40 youth mentors have trained 1250 children and youth in the four different modes of the program (Walking, Cycling, In-Line Skating and Skateboarding). More training sessions in the different modes are planned for this spring and summer. If your school or group is interested in learning more or booking a training session please contact Jennifer McGowan at
walk@ecologyaction.ca
and (902) 442-5055 or check out our website.
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Winter Walk Day 2011 Success
A total of 95 schools/youth groups participated in Winter Walk Day, which was any day in February. Here are a handful of schools events.
- Upper Stewiacke Elementary in Stewiacke got involved with a walk at the school, since most students are bussed. It was part of a week-long series of events for its winter carnival.
- Port Maitland Consolidated School in Port Maitland had a week-long winter carnival with a “Canada Winter Games" theme. On one fine, sunny afternoon they had the entire school (approximately 160 students) and volunteers walked about three km through the community.
- Park West School in Halifax had a Warm Up for the Canada Games Halifax week (see photo). It included a walk with the Canada Games Mascots, Anni and Sammi. Students were encouraged to walk to school and track their walking on WOW (We Often Walk) cards to be entered into a prize draw.
Winter Walk Day is a partnership of Take the Roof Off Winter, Active & Safe Routes to School of the Ecology Action Centre and the Heart&Stroke Walkabout.
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HRM Mayor Signs Walking Charter at Halifax School Event
Toques, scarves and mitts were all the rage on February 8 as HRM Mayor Peter Kelly walked to school with St. Stephen’s Elementary students. The school’s Winter Walk Day was part of the Take the Roof off Winter campaign and the Ecology Action Centre’s Active & Safe Routes to School program. The event also marked the formal signing of HRM’s Walking Charter.
The HRM Walking Charter was adopted by Council last Spring and is based on the “Walk 21” International Charter for Walking. It recognizes the importance of and need for walkable communities. Read more here. Photo credit: Gord Lehmann, HRM.
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Making the Connection: Youth Summit on Sustainable Transportation
Do you know someone aged 17-25 who is interested in sustainable transportation and planning issues? If you responded yes, you should encourage him or her to apply to be a delegate at the upcoming Youth Summit being hosted by Metro Transit in Halifax, NS, from July 8 to 10, 2011. Selected delegates will have FREE transportation to and from the event, FREE accommodations at Dalhousie University and FREE meals all weekend! Visit the website for more details and to obtain an application. The Atlantic Region Youth Summit is sponsored by the Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA). The deadline for applications is May 27.
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Walk to School Videos & Parent Testimonials
The national School Travel Planning project, coordinated by Green Communities Canada, has produced two videos on the greatness of walking to school. The first videos, How to Get Active on theTrip to School Through School Travel Planning
, explains how School Travel Planning works. The second video, Kids Say Walking to School is Healthy, Fun and Good for the Environment, has students talking about walking to school. There is also a document, Parent Testimonials, giving parents’ views on walking to school.
Westmount Elementary began School Travel Planning in 2009. As part of its plan, the school launched the “Ardmore Arrow” Walking School Bus. Coverage of the Walking School Bus appeared on EastLink Cable’s “The ‘Fax” news show, produced by Kings College journalism students. Check out the coverage
(coverage starts at the 10 minute mark – press play and then drag the time balloon to the right to advance).
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Upcoming Events in NS: Including Thank A Bus Driver & Crossing Guard Day
Thank a Bus Driver and Crossing Guard Day: May 18
If students can’t walk or cycle to school, then taking the bus is the next best sustainable transportation choice. May 18 is Thank a Bus Driver and Crossing Guard Day as part of the Ecology Action Centre’s 40 Days of Action 40th birthday celebrations. No matter where you are in Nova Scotia, consider getting the students, parents and staff at your school to thank their bus drivers and crossing guards for the work they do. Thank them simply by saying “thanks” or write notes and hand them out. Saying thanks costs nothing and makes everyone feel good!
More Events
National Road Safety Week: May 17 to 23
HRM Bike Week: May 27 to June 5
MEC Bike to School Day: June 1
Basinview Drive Community School, Bedford Pace Car launch: June 3
International Trails Day: June 4
CBRM Bike Week: June 4 to 12
Rural Active Transportation Summit: June 8 to 9
MEC Bike Fest: June 12
Active Transportation Month: June
Recreation Month: June
International Walk to School Month: October
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Active School Travel News & Resources
News Highlights from Twitter
More News
Guides & Webinars
Reports & Resources
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About Active & Safe Routes to School
Active & Safe Routes to School in Nova Scotia encourages more children, youth and their families to use active transportation - such as walking and cycling - for the environment, physical activity and traffic safety. It is coordinated in Nova Scotia by the Ecology Action Centre
in partnership with the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness as part of the Active Kids Healthy Kids Initiative.
Active & Safe Routes to School
www.saferoutesns.ca
www.twitter.com/asrts
asrts@ecologyaction.ca
Tel: (902) 442-5055
Fax: (902) 405-3716
Ecology Action Centre
2705 Fern Lane, Halifax, NS B3K 4L3
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